Vol 9 Chapter 2.2 (1/2)

Chapter 2.2

A monster dwelling in a liquid that melts even iron. I heard about such creatures from Kagutsuchi, but it is curious indeed.

This is nothing special, pay attention to the lava and its the same as any other monster out there. Besides, if its a fish type itll be really delicious.

Heh, I am relieved to hear that. I shall make sure to cut it ready to be served, then.

With a small laugh, Munechika readied her blade.

Each party member proceeded forward, their weapons at the ready. After about 5 minutes, a fish fin-looking object emerged from the molten stream.

The object, which emitted a metal-like glimmer, was about 1 mel long.

A Kiral Laava, huh. Judging from the fin, its probably 4 mels long. If it jumps in the air, it will shoot Fireball from its mouth, so be careful!

Kiral Laava was an orca-type monster.

It attacked in mainly 3 patterns: tackles using its ma.s.sive body, fang attacks, or fireb.a.l.l.s. As it dwelt within lava, fire-elemental attacks had little effect and it was also resistant to physical attacks.

What made it most troublesome was the fact that it attacked in groups.

There are 4 of them, I see. Im going to lure them out, attack them then!

s.h.i.+baid, the tank, swiftly attracted the Kiral Laavas attention with taunt skills.

2 of the 4 Kiral Laavas jumped in midair, while the other 2 charged towards s.h.i.+baid.

The 2 that jumped in midair, uncaring of the possibility of hitting their fellow monsters, shot Fireball at s.h.i.+baid.

This much is nothing!

s.h.i.+baid held the Great Sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+eld of Collision in front and ran forward towards the Fireball attacks and the Kiral Laavas. The very instant before clas.h.i.+ng against the monsters, he activated the s.h.i.+eld-type martial skill Eclipse Fall.

An emerald green, 3-mels wide transparent s.h.i.+eld was formed with Great Sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+eld of Collision at its center and blew away the charging Kiral Laavas as well as the fireb.a.l.l.s.

s.h.i.+baid had the lowest AGI among all the support characters, but he was still faster than the average Chosen One. As the one tasked with stopping enemies, his STR was very high.

His bodys build was good and, in addition, his main job was Holy Knight. No matter how huge the Kiral Laavas were, s.h.i.+baid would never lose in a clash against them.

The orca monsters were thus blown back, their boulder-like scales shattered to pieces.

The 2 monsters that had shot Fireball attacks were still descending and couldnt a.s.sist their companions.

Yes, as expected.

Being blown in midair, the monsters were completely open except the front, from where they could shoot Fireball. Not missing this opportunity to strike, Filma closed in to cut down the monsters still floating in midair.

Moments later, Munechika flashed the blade of the katana she wielded and, like Filma, cleaved the Kiral Laava in two with one slash.

The monsters sliced in two squirmed for a few seconds, but quickly stopped moving.

The rest are fleeing, I see.

Probably judging that they had no chances of winning against s.h.i.+ns party after seeing their companions defeated so easily, the other 2 Kiral Laava disappeared into the lava stream.

s.h.i.+n looked at their markers on the map: they were moving away, as to go far from the river.

This river doesnt have only one course then?

What do you mean?

The two monsters that fled just now were swimming in a place that clearly wasnt this river. Theres probably a pa.s.sage leading to some other location hidden by this lava stream.

s.h.i.+n answered Tieras question by explaining the Kiral Laavas&r

squo; movements.

So thats why they dont come out. Swimming away inside that makes them really hard to chase downnot that I want to fight them.

After all, the monsters are usually hard to fight. I thought we would have to battle them until the end, but I guess that even at that level they run, huh.

The Kiral Laavas level was 500 on average.

At that level, as far as s.h.i.+n knew, most monsters fought until the bitter end. He thought they would attack again, so their escape caught him by surprise.

The less fighting, the better. Were almost in the middle of the dungeon, the miasmas effect is getting stronger too. Be careful everyone.

Yes, the real thing is starting now.

After Munechikas remark, s.h.i.+n and the others focused anew.

They had all noticed how their surroundings changed as they proceeded through the dungeon. Unnatural black dots had started appearing on the rocks.

When s.h.i.+n tried throwing a pebble at them, the pebble turned black the instant it struck the black dot, then shattered.

Theyre clearly tainted.

Yes, this aura is miasma, without a doubt.

Munechika agreed to s.h.i.+ns a.s.sertion. Part of the dungeon turning black was one of the games unchanged features.

As they proceeded towards the depths of the dungeon, s.h.i.+ns detection picked up monster presences yet again. The detected units were 6, but their movements were clearly erratic.

There are monsters up ahead, but theres something odd about them.

What do you mean?

Their presences get closer, then get farther again. I think that the monsters might be fighting among themselves.

Hmm, monsters fighting monsters over territory is not that unusual, though.

Munechika casted her doubts after hearing s.h.i.+ns explanation. Monsters also had enemies among their own, and sometimes would fight each other while ignoring the players.

That is true, but

No, monsters inside dungeons never fight among themselves, do they? The monsters that dwell inside dungeons, even if their forms are different, are said to be of the same tribe.

Schnee answered Munechika in place of s.h.i.+n, who was at a loss for words.

Monsters only fought each other in the field outside. Monsters inside dungeons, different from the ones scouring the fields, were not hostile to other monsters.

s.h.i.+ns knowledge, however, was limited to the game mechanics; he could not give a definite answer.

Even species that battle each other outside cooperate inside dungeons. Considering this, that is an unusual phenomenon indeed.

In any case, we will encounter them if we go on like this. Lets go see with our own eyes.

s.h.i.+ns party proceeded while erasing their presence and gradually came to hear clas.h.i.+ng noises. There was a boulder ideal to use as hiding spot, so they peeked forward from behind it.

Thats

What they saw was a giant scorpion-like monster, with half of its body painted black, named Schuberc, and a creature that looked like several monsters forcefully fused together.

Thats a Chimera Invader.

The aberration born from monsters corrupted by miasma was the Chimera Invader.

Created from the fusion of monsters tainted by miasma, its horrific appearance was disliked by female players.

What is thatsupposed to be?

You know that monsters transform because of miasma, right?

Yes, I have heard as much from Kagutsuchi. It is my first time to see one in the flesh though.

Thats the fusion of such monsters. Though, I have no idea why it turned into a form that makes it harder to move.

Chimera Invaders did not have a fixed form, but changed based on the fused monsters.

The Chimera Invader fighting against the Schuberc was mainly formed of Kiral Laavas; from the right side of its abdomen sprouted a Golem-like arm, next to its dorsal fin there was the face of a dog-like monster, snake tails poked out next to its mouth, 8 spider-like legs from the left side of its abdomen.

Its fusion was so chaotic it was almost impossible to describe.

The creatures fighting style did not possess the slightest regularity.

It deftly jumped using the golem arm and spider legs, struck the Schuberc with the snake tails, spewed fire from the dog-like face, faked a tackle then punched with the golem armit was completely unpredictable.

The biggest problem was that every time the Chimera Invader struck, the miasmas corruption on the Schubercs carapace increased in intensity. If things continued like this, the Schuberc would also turn into an Invader and would be a.s.similated by the Chimera Invader.

The more monsters it a.s.similates, the more the level and fighting power of the Chimera Invader increase.

Lets get rid of it before it a.s.similates the Schuberc.

The whole party nodded to s.h.i.+ns words and stepped forward.

First, s.h.i.+baid activated Eclipse Fall and charged towards the monsters.